2021 travel trends and how to experience them in the NT

Reconnect and rejuvenate holidays:

After a year like 2020, embark on a relaxing, rejuvenating escape in 2021 to reconnect with yourself and nature

• Larapinta Goddess Walk: This specially crafted three-day, all female expedition along the picturesque Larapinta Trail will revitalize the mind and body, with an enriching combination of cultural and wellness activities. In addition to walking along the West MacDonnell Ranges, each day is filled with daily meditation and yoga as you experience the ancient sights of The Red Centre. Along the way, travellers will stay in the comfort of permanent eco campsites, enjoying hot water, heated dining areas and lounges.

• Banubanu Beach Retreat: Off the coast of the secluded East Arnhem Land, Banubanu Beach Retreat on Bremer Island allows travellers to reconnect with the untouched, natural surroundings, as they relax along the pristine beaches and stay in the luxurious glamping Penthouse. The retreat accommodates only 12 guests at a time. Known for its lush tropical surrounds and abundant sea life, Banubanu also offers an array of quality fishing and traditional mud crabbing experiences.

 

Aussie icons:

With international travel on hold, there has been no better time to explore your own backyard and tick off those bucket list adventure.

• Uluru Kata Tjuta: Arguably, there is no Aussie landmark more iconic than Uluru. As the spiritual heartland of Australia, Uluru gives Australian travellers the chance to immerse themselves in the oldest, continuous living culture in the world.
• Whether you watch the sunrise over Uluru, climb aboard a camel for a tour around the monolith or even choose to skydive above the Australian icon, there’s a way to experience Uluru for every type of traveller.
• For those looking to tick of a bucket list item, a stay at Longitude 131 is the definition of a once-in-a-lifetime experience, boasting a celebrity guest list with the likes of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Will and Kate, staying at the indulgent, five star resort

Wide open spaces:

After 2020 made us all too familiar with our homes, 2021 is the year to pack your bags and explore Australia’s vast landscapes and wide, open spaces.

• Kakadu National Park: Australia’s largest national park, Kakadu is World Heritage listed for its cultural and natural value, with thundering waterfalls, lush rainforests, wetlands, wildlife and ancient rock art for travellers to explore. Kakadu offers Australian travellers an escape to the wide open spaces of the NT and the chance to reconnect with nature.
• Stay at Bamurru Plains: There’s no WiFi, no mobile phone reception and no TV at Bamurru Plains, just exclusive access to 300 km² of wild, wide open space. This high-end safari lodge dubbed ‘Wild Bush Luxury’ is perched on the floodplains of the NT’s Mary River region on the fringes of Kakadu National Park.
• At Kakadu,  a Yellow Water Billabong Cruise is an absolute must-do and showcases the wildlife and vastness of the wetlands.

 

Indigenous experiences:

Make 2021 the year of connecting and experiencing the traditions of the world’s oldest, continuous culture

• Parrtjima - a Festival in Light, Alice Springs, 9-18 April 2021: The only Aboriginal light festival of its kind in the world, Parrtjima proudly brings to life the stories of Australia’s oldest living culture through a collection of mesmerising new light installations each year, set against the 300-million-year-old canvas of the MacDonnell Ranges.
• SeaLink’s Tiwi By Design Tour is an immersive art and cultural day-tour introducing you to the Aboriginal community of Wurrumiyanga. It includes a Welcome to Country with a smoking ceremony and totem dances, and a screen printing workshop at Tiwi Design, where you can bring home a traditional Tiwi print souvenir.

 

Self-drive and road trip escapes:

With international travel on hold, pack the car and discover the freedom of a road trip across Australia

• Journey along the Red Centre Way: Discover the stunning NT desert with Red Centre Way, a 1135-kilometre loop that starts at Alice Springs and loops around the West MacDonnell Ranges.
• Explore the tropical Top End along Nature’s Way: The seven-day, 735-kilometre Nature’s Way from Darwin to Kakadu, takes travellers through the NT’s diverse city and natural landscapes.
• Journey across multiple states for the ultimate road trip along The Savannah Way: For travellers seeking the ultimate Australian adventure, The Savannah Way stretches from Cairns in North Queensland, through the NT, to Broome in WA.
• Experience the best of the NT with a trip from Alice to Darwin, via Kakadu: For the ultimate Northern Territory experience, travellers can’t beat a road trip from the red desert sands of Alice Springs to the tropical landscapes of the Top End. Alice to Darwin, via Kakadu, takes in all the natural wonders along the way, from the MacDonnell Ranges, Karlu Karlu/Devils Marbles to Nitmiluk National Park.

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au